According to Collider, Phoenix is in final negotiations to play Doctor Strange for Marvel, news which is both surprising and exciting. Unfortunately it's also unconfirmed, and there are other sources out there saying this is far from a done deal, such as Devin Faraci of Badass Digest....

"Joaquin Phoenix met w/ Marvel this week about Strange, but I feel like he may still balk."

The sticking point seems to be the multi-picture deal Phoenix would have to sign. He's notoriously choosy about what projects he takes on, and seeing as Doctor Strange is expected to be Marvel's next major solo franchise post-Iron Man it's going to demand a lot of Phoenix's time. This comes on the heels of an apparently erroneous report stating Jack Huston (Boardwalk Empire) was a contender for the role.

If he does agree Phoenix would be joining writer/director Scott Derrickson on the film, which many think will open on July 8th 2016 as part of Marvel's "Third Phase"

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Travis Hopson is a member of the Washington DC Area Film Critics Association and co-creator of the Punch Drunk Critics website, as well as a regular contributor to a number of entertainment broadcasts.